MEXICO CITY — World Cup co-host Mexico was optimistic about its chances of advancing from the group stage after being drawn to play against South Africa, South Korea and a yet-to-be-determined European team.While some TV analysts described the group as “easy,” coach Javier Aguirre was more cautious.“We faced Korea and they are not an easy team. They do their job. They are disciplined and organized, while South Africa is not easy either,” he said after the draw in Washington on Friday. “They are good teams, but we have a chance, we are at home and with our people.”Mexico faces South Africa on June 11 in Mexico City in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup. A week later El Tri will play South Korea in Guadalajara. The last group stage match will be against the winner of a European playoff involving Denmark, North Macedonia, Czech Republic and Ireland.The country has high hopes despite being eliminated in the group stage in the 2022 World Cup and mixed results in international matches ahead of next year’s tournament.“There won’t be any easy opponents, but it could have been worse,” said striker Raul Jimenez, who plays for Fulham in the Premier League. “I think it’s a good group, from which we can learn a lot, and we’re taking it one game at a time because what we want is to win and finish first.”Mexico has played South Korea twice in World Cup history and won both games, in France 1998 and Russia 2018. The teams tied 2-2 in a friendly match last September.“It’s basically a European t …
